expectations -- >> government romney, he's a good debater. i'm just okay. >> he needs to give the american people the choice that we're offering. >> what's not debating is the interest. the live audience is invitation only, so that means the tv audience is expected to be in the millions. between the two candidates mitt romney is actually the more battle tested of the two having taken part in some 20 primary debates on his way to the republican nomination. president obama on the other hand as you know had no primary challenger and as a result, no primary debates. in the newsroom tom fitzgerald, fox 5 news. >> fox 5 political analyst mark plotkin joins us tonight. it's always great to see you. >> good to be here, shawn. >> how important are these presidential debates and do they really make a difference? >> if you look back in history, i think there have been two that have been deciders in terms of candidates, 1960. i watched that first debate john kennedy on the stage with richard nixon and he was considered the winner of that on tv, not on ra